[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10383 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10383
To authorize grants to support long-term climate resiliency for
archival institutions, libraries, and museums in order to provide
continuity and access to covered records.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 12, 2024
Ms. Adams introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Accountability
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize grants to support long-term climate resiliency for
archival institutions, libraries, and museums in order to provide
continuity and access to covered records.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Public Archives Resiliency Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Climate change affects temperature, changes
precipitation, increases sea levels, and increases the
frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
(2) According to a 2018 study from Climate Risk
Management--
(A) more than 20 percent of archival repositories
are likely to be affected by storm surges;
(B) more than 90 percent of archives are estimated
to have a temperature change greater than 1 C, with
7.5 percent of sites likely to change by 10 C by 2070;
and
(C) 69.5 percent of archives are likely to receive
at least 6 inches more rainfall by 2100 over current
annual averages.
(3) Extreme weather affects infrastructure and critical
systems, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning
systems, and mechanical systems.
(4) Climate change increasingly poses a risk for
degradation and loss of cultural heritage and archives.
(5) There is an urgent need to protect vital records, like
birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses,
in preparation for or following extreme weather events.
(6) Funding for the National Archives and Records
Administration, an independent agency that provides public
access to high-value Federal Government records, has not
meaningfully increased in the last 30 years, despite an
exponential growth in electronic records.
(7) Recent events demonstrate the importance of investment
in public record-keeping systems and institutions. For
instance--
(A) during the COVID-19 pandemic, many veterans
were unable to secure adequate documentation to obtain
veterans' benefits and military burials because of
insufficient staffing levels at the National Archives
Personnel Records Center; and
(B) in 2023, 8 of the Lahaina Restoration
Foundation's historic sites burned down or were
critically damaged, leading to the loss of tens of
thousands of artifacts and records in Hawaii due to the
Lahaina fires, although the Foundation was able to
digitize certain collections before the fires destroyed
these artifacts.
(8) In the most recent census taken of archivists in the
United States, 20 percent indicated that they planned to leave
the profession within the next 5 years, with burnout being
cited as a leading cause. Robust investments in sustainable
staffing in addition to resilient infrastructure is critical to
the operation and maintenance of these record-keeping
institutions.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZING GRANTS TO PROMOTE PRESERVATION, CLIMATE RESILIENCE,
AND ADAPTION FOR LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES, AND MUSEUMS.
(a) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Covered records.--The term ``covered records'' means--
(A) vital records, as defined in part 1223.2 of
title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, or similar
successor regulations;
(B) essential and vital records, as defined by
State, local, Tribal, or territorial law (including
regulations); and
(C) any other records of historical or cultural
significance, as determined by the Archivist of the
United States and the Director of the Institute of
Museum and Library Services in consultation with--
(i) the head of the agency in each State
that is responsible for the State archives; and
(ii) the State historical records advisory
board in each State, as defined in section
1206.41 of title 36, Code of Federal
Regulations, or similar successor regulations.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means
any of the following entities that maintain covered records:
(A) State, local, Tribal, and territorial
governments.
(B) Public archives, libraries, and museums.
(C) Institutions of higher education, as defined in
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(D) Nonprofit community-based organizations.
(b) In General.--
(1) In general.--The Archivist of the United States, acting
jointly with the Director of the Institute of Museum and
Library Services, shall award grants through the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission and the
Institute of Museum and Library Services, on a competitive
basis, to eligible entities for the purpose of supporting long-
term climate resiliency in order to provide continuity and
access to covered records, as described in subsection (d).
(2) Vital records.--From the amounts made available to
carry out this section, not less than 50 percent shall be for
grants to eligible entities that intend to use the grant funds
to support activities described in subsection (d) with respect
to vital records, as described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of
subsection (a)(1).
(3) Reservation of funds.--From the amounts made available
to carry out this section, not less than 3 percent shall be
reserved for Indian Tribes (as defined in section 2 of the
Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of
1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801)) and non-profit organizations that
primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians.
(c) Application.--An eligible entity that desires a grant under
this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the National Historical Publications
and Records Commission and the Institute of Museum and Library Services
may require.
(d) Eligible Uses of Grant Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a
grant under this section shall use grant funds to support one or more
of the following:
(1) Staffing necessary to--
(A) support continuity of covered records,
including the digitization or digital cloud storage of
covered records; and
(B) mitigate the possibility of disruptions to
accessing covered records.
(2) Facility infrastructure upgrades to--
(A) protect facilities that house covered records
from extreme temperatures, humidity, storms, winds,
hurricanes, tornadoes, heavy snow, blizzards, flooding,
erosion, wildfires, and sea level rise; and
(B) prevent water damage caused by heavy rain, poor
grading, snow melt, ice melt, water pipes, drain pipes,
and undersized stormwater controls.
(3) Relocating covered records and infrastructure outside
of hazardous areas, where necessary.
(4) The provision of internet and broadband connectivity
equipment, as well as other technological equipment and
resources necessary to digitize and store multiple distributed
copies of covered records that are at risk of damage or loss
due to extreme weather or other conditions, and to provide
online training and materials related to conservation planning
and education.
(5) Language preservation, including through direct
outreach, digital and physical record-keeping, and other
activities.
(6) Developing and implementing a climate adaption plan.
(7) Developing an emergency preparedness and disaster
response plan coordination network.
(8) Accessing conservation and climate risk training and
education materials.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION AND OVERSIGHT.
(a) No Prohibition Against Construction.--Funds awarded under this
Act may be used for construction expenses.
(b) No Matching Requirement or Non-Federal Share.--Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, an eligible entity that receives funds
under this Act shall not be required to provide matching funds or a
non-Federal share toward the cost of the activities carried out with
funds under this Act.
(c) Administrative Costs.--From the amount appropriated to carry
out this Act, the Archivist of the United States and the Director of
the Institute of Museum and Library Services may allocate not more than
3 percent of such amount for program administration, oversight
activities, research, analysis, and data collection.
SEC. 5. STUDY.
(a) In General.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study--
(1) of covered records to identify eligible entities and
covered records vulnerable to sea level rise, surface water
flooding, increased rainfall, extreme temperature, fire risks,
natural disasters (including tornados, blizzards, and ice
storms), grid resilience, or labor shortages that could cause a
disruption in the continuity of covered records; and
(2) to identify potential safe harbor institutions that may
be designated as receiving repositories for covered records
that may need to be relocated, and any potential legal barriers
to such relocation.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress
containing the results of the study carried out under subsection (a).
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$250,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
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